Posted by Elizabeth McCollum on February 14, 1998 at 11:28:44:
In Reply to: Re: Lyonesse Trilogy posted by Gabriel Stein on February 10, 1998 at 02:54:10:
: I have also encountered this strange attitude and find myself equally puzzled. I very much enjoyed Lyonesse, in fact more so than the Cugel books (good as they are). But I think onepoint made in an earlier comment regarding the characters (the differences between Adam Reith and Kirth Gersen)still has some truth. Why do we read Vance? As for myself, I see three reasons: 1) His superb writing style, in particular his way of writing conversation. 2) His descriptions of strange cultures. In contrast to other writers, Vance never needs to postulate a disaster/war/plague to explain how a certain society came about (To Live Forever is the exception to this rule). He basically says, if we continue to be as we are, one day this kind of society might well develop. 3)His "mood settings". However, his description of characters is much less strong - but that doesn't detract from the pleasure of reading him.
In addition to his descriptions of strange cultures, which are indeed fascinating and full of strange and wondrous creatures, I find his writing very atmospheric. The description of Suldrun's garden has always stayed with me. To me, the trilogy is the ultimate high fantasy trilogy, it is the one I hold as the standard to which my own poor efforts should be held. Yes, as you say the characters are perhaps weak at times, though I find many of them remain very fresh in my memory, even if their names escape me. The little fairy who gets zapped with constant itching, the sorcerer's house in the wood, that keeps changing, and in fact the princess Suldrun herself, and her mother and father.
I guess my point is that I value his trilogy for an overall brilliance, which no amount of faults can dim. I guess that's why I'm an art history major, and not an English major, like I started out to be.
Thanks for responding, and I hope to have more to say in the future. This internet stuff is still very new to me.